China Visa

Dimensions

• SpecSnap digital output: 354 × 472 px, JPEG, RGB colour. This is an upload preset, not a paper-photo export.
• Published digital bounds: 354–420 px wide and 472–560 px high. Our selected canvas has a 3:4 ratio; the published endpoints do not establish that every accepted upload must have that ratio. Follow the current portal for your chosen mission.
• File size: 40–120 KB. Both bounds apply to the exported JPEG. A file below the minimum is rejected by SpecSnap rather than silently offered for upload. Adding empty bytes does not improve photo quality.
• Separate paper format: 33 × 48 mm. Do not stretch this digital crop to make a paper photo. SpecSnap disables print sheets for this preset. Your mission may require a separate paper photo; check its current checklist and required quantity.

Head position

Face the camera with the full head and face visible and centred. The MFA's digital diagram includes pixel-based head-width, upper-margin and eye-position references. The paper diagram separately gives 15–22 mm head width and 28–33 mm chin-to-crown height, with 3–5 mm above the crown and at least 7 mm below the chin. Do not transfer those millimetre measurements to a differently proportioned digital canvas.

SpecSnap retains its existing 70–80% face-height and eye-line crop targets. Those are app targets, not a claim that the MFA publishes the same percentage bands or that every official digital measurement is checked. Use the portal's own photo check.

Background

Use plain white or near-white, without a border or background scene. Avoid shadows on the face and background. Keep natural skin tone and even exposure.

Expression

Keep a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed and ears visible. Face the camera directly. The reviewed specification permits limited head angles; a straight, upright pose is the clearest starting point.

Accessories

Clear glasses are permitted only when frames, glare, tint and shadows do not obscure the eyes. Thick or obscuring frames and tinted lenses are unsuitable. Religious head coverings may be permitted with facial features fully visible. Avoid jewellery or other objects that obscure the face.

Other rules

Use a colour photo taken within six months that reflects your current appearance. Do not distort facial features or create an unnatural skin tone. Preserve your original photo. The current US embassy guide expressly supports dragging/cropping in the application portal; that is not blanket approval of every background or facial edit. SpecSnap's availability does not guarantee official acceptance.

Notes

China's online application and preliminary-review process depends on the mission. The reviewed US embassy guide says that after repeated failed photo checks, an applicant may continue as instructed and bring a standard ID photo when submitting the passport. Follow your own office rather than assuming that fallback or a fixed paper-photo count applies everywhere. An online photo upload does not mean the whole visa application is completed online.

Sources

• MFA — Photo requirements for Chinese visa application, hosted by the authorized Kuala Lumpur visa centre
• Chinese Embassy in the United States — China Online VISA Application guide
• Sydney visa centre — Photo requirements